Tomorrow morning, Andy and I will load our stuff and head off on this year's adventure.
A few months ago, I got it in my head that I wanted to take Andy to watch a shuttle launch before the program ended. He has loved the space program all his life, and I had this romantic vision of standing beside him, holding his hand as we watched the shuttle rise from the pad and disappear from our view.
Well, we will see the launch pad, and I'm sure I'll hold his hand at some point during the trip, but we will not be seeing a shuttle launch; they scrubbed the mission a few weeks ago. After giving him the option of waiting and going in the Fall, he opted to go ahead and go now. It will be a busy two days at Cape Canaveral; eating lunch with an astronaut, riding a shuttle simulator, and visiting the Star Trek exhibit. Yes, NASA acknowledges Star Trek!
As for me, I'm looking forward to seeing a part of the world I've never seen; haven't been past Biloxi, Miss.! and visiting my brother and niece whom I've not seen in too many years. Oh, and sleeping on clean sheets in a cold, cold hotel room every night! :)
So, so long for a few days; I'll tell all about it at a later date. Lord willing, it will be an adventure!!
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Friday, July 23, 2010
writer's block
It just seems like lately, I haven't had much to say... I guess with no work to complain about, and quiet days at home, I'm having a bit of a slump. Don't get me wrong, I love my nice, quiet, contemplative life; it's just not anything to go on and on about.
Hopefully, after our trip, I'll have plenty to share!!
Hopefully, after our trip, I'll have plenty to share!!
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Yet another transition
Since May, Andy and I have been both going through major job transitions. First, my teaching career of 29 years came to a screeching halt with retirement, and now, Andy has made a big shift in his career.
Andy is a great Probation Officer. His people actually hate (well, most of them) to finish their probationary sentence because he has helped them transition so much from their crime. This is the part of his job that he takes the most pleasure in. For a while now, he's been debating where he was, and finally has come to a decision. He as given up his Office Manager role and has come "Home" to Atascosa once again as a regular, traditional P.O. No more evaluations, no more dealing with personnel issues, no more "paperwork" for managerial purposes. He feels like now he can mentor some or the younger, less experienced officers and dedicate his time to what he loves most. This last chapter of his career will be more what he wants, and I'm proud of him for taking the leap.
On Thursday, I joined him at his office as he said an official "Goodbye" to friends and co-workers. He'd been in that office 16+ years, and some were harder to leave than others. But as I stood back and watched as he got hug after hug, and strong, hard-felt handshakes, I knew this; he did a great job there, and his influence will live there for quite a while. I was very proud of his demeanor throughout the process of leaving, and he can certainly move on with the feeling of accomplishment inside him.
So, now he works for a week in his new office, and we take off for a long, hopefully memorable vacation. It's certainly earned and anticipated !!!
Andy is a great Probation Officer. His people actually hate (well, most of them) to finish their probationary sentence because he has helped them transition so much from their crime. This is the part of his job that he takes the most pleasure in. For a while now, he's been debating where he was, and finally has come to a decision. He as given up his Office Manager role and has come "Home" to Atascosa once again as a regular, traditional P.O. No more evaluations, no more dealing with personnel issues, no more "paperwork" for managerial purposes. He feels like now he can mentor some or the younger, less experienced officers and dedicate his time to what he loves most. This last chapter of his career will be more what he wants, and I'm proud of him for taking the leap.
On Thursday, I joined him at his office as he said an official "Goodbye" to friends and co-workers. He'd been in that office 16+ years, and some were harder to leave than others. But as I stood back and watched as he got hug after hug, and strong, hard-felt handshakes, I knew this; he did a great job there, and his influence will live there for quite a while. I was very proud of his demeanor throughout the process of leaving, and he can certainly move on with the feeling of accomplishment inside him.
So, now he works for a week in his new office, and we take off for a long, hopefully memorable vacation. It's certainly earned and anticipated !!!
Monday, July 12, 2010
"and Mary kept all these things in her heart."
This is one of my favorite quotes of the New Testament, referring to the life of Jesus, His mother Mary witnessing things and holding them in her heart forever. I've thought of it often during the years as Dana and Erin grew from little babies, to toddlers, to teens, and even now as women. I love to observe them and tuck away little things that are special in my "mom's eyes".
Last week was a good chance to add lots of those moments - I spent three days in Houston at the Johnsons' (don't I have a great son-in-law to endure me all those days?!?) and the joy of seeing Erin with her babies; to see her teaching Liz such little things as kissing her baby brother good-night, and "helping" fold clothes were just precious. I know I did those same things, but it didn't feel the same as watching her. I enjoyed Gregg coming in after work and getting "It's Dad!" from Liz; so full of excitement and love for her father and his joy at seeing his children. I even got to witness Dana totally enjoying her role as Aunt D as she shared chocolate pie with Liz and taught her to jump on the bed and fall in heaps of giggles. My heart just filled up time and time again.
So, even know, as I sit here at look at Bladen and Liz's pictures - I remember all those little things - Bladen doing his "pose" as he balanced himself on the floor - and it's almost as good as being there still.
Almost....
Last week was a good chance to add lots of those moments - I spent three days in Houston at the Johnsons' (don't I have a great son-in-law to endure me all those days?!?) and the joy of seeing Erin with her babies; to see her teaching Liz such little things as kissing her baby brother good-night, and "helping" fold clothes were just precious. I know I did those same things, but it didn't feel the same as watching her. I enjoyed Gregg coming in after work and getting "It's Dad!" from Liz; so full of excitement and love for her father and his joy at seeing his children. I even got to witness Dana totally enjoying her role as Aunt D as she shared chocolate pie with Liz and taught her to jump on the bed and fall in heaps of giggles. My heart just filled up time and time again.
So, even know, as I sit here at look at Bladen and Liz's pictures - I remember all those little things - Bladen doing his "pose" as he balanced himself on the floor - and it's almost as good as being there still.
Almost....
Monday, July 05, 2010
What do you remember about church from your youth? Andy and I were talking this morning about people who have gone before us, who impacted our faith, and I got to thinking about Myrtle Spence.
Sister Spence, as I knew her, was a truly committed Christian woman in the long ago years of the 50s and 60s. She never missed a service, her head covered in a fashionable hat and knitted shawl, sitting in her spot on the end of her pew, beside the window. We had those old, crank-open windows and no airconditioning in those days, and she was right there, beside hers. As I sat across the aisle, or down the row, or behind her, I could always hear her sweet, clear voice singing hymns, but otherwise, she was silent.
The thing I remember most, and this is why she is on my list of "heroes of faith", is her teaching my Bible Class. She always had flannelboard figures, or - my favorite - pipe-cleaner figures with which to act out Bible Stories. Daniel and the Lion's Den, Noah's Ark, Moses in the reed basket. She brought those stories to life with her animated story telling and pipe cleaners....no dvds for us!! We sang lots of songs and always, always passed the band-aid box for our offering to the missionaries. She made sure we participated in all parts of the class.
Sister Spence has been gone a long, long time; but now, thinking back, it's as if I saw her yesterday. I hold a special part in my heart, and I look forward to seeing her in the future, in our Father's house.
So - who are your Sister Spences?? Please share!!
Sister Spence, as I knew her, was a truly committed Christian woman in the long ago years of the 50s and 60s. She never missed a service, her head covered in a fashionable hat and knitted shawl, sitting in her spot on the end of her pew, beside the window. We had those old, crank-open windows and no airconditioning in those days, and she was right there, beside hers. As I sat across the aisle, or down the row, or behind her, I could always hear her sweet, clear voice singing hymns, but otherwise, she was silent.
The thing I remember most, and this is why she is on my list of "heroes of faith", is her teaching my Bible Class. She always had flannelboard figures, or - my favorite - pipe-cleaner figures with which to act out Bible Stories. Daniel and the Lion's Den, Noah's Ark, Moses in the reed basket. She brought those stories to life with her animated story telling and pipe cleaners....no dvds for us!! We sang lots of songs and always, always passed the band-aid box for our offering to the missionaries. She made sure we participated in all parts of the class.
Sister Spence has been gone a long, long time; but now, thinking back, it's as if I saw her yesterday. I hold a special part in my heart, and I look forward to seeing her in the future, in our Father's house.
So - who are your Sister Spences?? Please share!!
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